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Overall, two thirds of the dogs distinguished the kind from the selfish.

The experiments showed that dogs appeared to by paying more attention to the tone of voice the researchers used when dealing with the beggar, rather than the act of handing over food.

Researcher Sarah Marshall-Pescini said: ‘We were surprised that the voice had more impact than the gestures.’

Chimps are known to used ‘eavesdropping’ to help them decide which members of their group are most likely to share food but this is the first time that dogs have been shown to possess the special skill.

Dr Marshall-Pescini of Milan University, said: ‘We already know about the impressive skills of canines, but it is quite another thing to draw conclusions about people’s characters by merely observing how they treat each other.

‘We believe these skills have developed as a special asset during the domestication process rather than being a carry-over of similar tendencies within a pack.

‘The results are really very interesting.’

Previous research has concluded that dogs make better pets than cats - but only by a whisker.

In the comparison of 11 traits from brain size to environmental impact, dogs came out on top in six categories to cats’ five.

But cat lovers may have the last laugh, with other research concluding that they are the top dogs for brains.

Britons with university degrees are 36 per cent more likely to have a cat than others, including dog lovers.

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Dogs watch how people treat others to work out who to approach for food, scientists claim